System and method for monitoring bacterial growth of bacterial colonies and predicting colony biomass
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Publication Number
US-12307794-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
An imaging method for earliest microbial growth detection. The method uses images to determined colony biomass, and the colony biomass determines when the colony can be picked for analysis for identification or antibiotic susceptibility testing. If the sample source is not a pure sample source additional incubation may be required to permit an increase in biomass of the colonies prior to pick.
Core Innovation
The digital imaging apparatus monitors inoculated culture media by evaluating microbial biomass across digital images acquired over time. Image-processing workflows align images so corresponding pixels share matching coordinates, compare pixels to identify changes relative to background, and generate spatial and temporal contrast to segment objects corresponding to microbial colonies. The identified candidate objects are subsequently correlated with microbial biomass.
Processor instructions evaluate the aligned images, correlate identified objects with biomass, and assess whether the biological sample is pure. When a sample is determined to be pure, the processor evaluates whether biomass exceeds an area threshold to direct picking for downstream analysis, whereas non-pure samples undergo further incubation. The workflow detects microbial growth through automated analysis to detect growth earlier and shorten turnaround compared to manual inspection.
Claims Coverage
The provided relevant claims identify one independent claim directed to processor instructions for image-based monitoring of inoculated culture media, encompassing four inventive features.
Aligning and comparing digital images
The processor determines pixel coordinates relative to the container, aligns digital images acquired at different times so corresponding pixels match coordinates, and compares pixels to identify changes against designated background.
Identifying biomass through contrast analysis
The processor identifies pixels meeting a predetermined threshold contrast relative to background, groups connected pixels into candidate objects, and correlates the objects with biomass.
Assessing sample purity and directing biomass picking
The processor determines whether the biological sample is pure and, for a pure sample, determines whether the identified biomass covers an area exceeding a predetermined threshold to cause at least a portion of the biomass to be picked for further analysis.
Incubating non-pure samples
When the biological sample is determined not to be pure, the processor causes the inoculated culture media to undergo further incubation in the container.
The independent claim combines aligned-image comparison, contrast-based object identification, biomass correlation, sample-purity assessment, and a purity- and area-dependent determination to direct biomass picking or continued incubation.
Stated Advantages
The workflow detects microbial growth earlier and shortens testing turnaround compared with manual inspection.
Documented Applications
Automated identification and evaluation of microbial biomass from culture images, including identifying microorganism colonies and determining whether biomass is suitable for further analysis.
Timed specimen evaluation, including no-growth reporting and downstream testing such as microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing (MALDI/AST).
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